The Auntie Em Twister Hat was designed for the 2018 Cancer Challenge with Sweet Potato 3. Using contrasting colors, this free crochet pattern for a knit-look slouchy hat has a twist made using simple stitches and crocheting in the round without joins. The pattern is available in 6 sizes from newborn through adult large, so you’re sure to find a size that fits.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for the sample were generously provided by Craftsy and Clover USA.

If you’re new to the Crochet Cancer Challenge, it’s the fifth annual month-long virtual event hosted by Sweet Potato 3. Every October, Christine works with crochet designers who offer up one of their premium (paid) crochet patterns for free for a short time in exchange for a pledge from the crocheter who uses the coupon code. By using the coupon code, you are pledging to crochet a hat to donate to a cancer center or to a cancer patient that you know. Since most of my patterns are available for free, I am doing something special for this challenge. I pulled together an ebook collection of 6 of my pom pom hat designs that would be appropriate for donating, and I’m offering the entire ebook for free for a limited time!

Before I give you the coupon code, let me tell you a bit more about my new pattern, the Auntie Em Twister Hat, which is the final pattern in this collection.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that the half double crochet is my absolute favorite stitch. It’s so versatile! I wanted to design a pattern that alternates between the front and third (back) loop of the half double crochet to create texture, and I worked up some swatches. They were nice… but not enough OOMPH for my pattern for the Cancer Challenge! So, I decided not to join the pattern as I worked it in the round.

Not only does that mean that the finished hat doesn’t have a back seam (which makes it more comfy for a person experiencing hair loss), but it also gives the finished project a little twist.

As a kid, my mom would always “make” me watch The Wizard of Oz when it was shown on television about once a year. I was pretty bratty about not wanting to watch “some old movie” but over time, it grew on me. I remember how happy Dorothy was to be back home (after all, there’s no place like it!) with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. And, of course, the “twister” is why Dorothy was away from home in the first place. Hence the name Auntie Em Twister Hat.

By the way, if you’re looking for some places to donate your hat to, here are a few organizations that I’ve profiled in my charity spotlight series where you can donate hats.

• Knots of Love is an organization that distributes hats to people experiencing traumatic hair loss and preemie blankets to infants in the NICU. You can learn more about them (and get links to 4 free crochet and knitting patterns suitable for donation) here.
• Warm Up America is an organization that collects blankets and other projects, including hats, for people in need. You can find out more (and get the free crochet pattern for the Piggyback Stitch Block) here.
• Head Huggers is an organization that distributes handmade hats to people experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy and other medical treatments. You can learn more about them (and get the free crochet pattern for the Cuddly Soft Slouchy Hat in 10 sizes) here.

If you make your own Auntie Em Twister Hat, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

Add the Auntie Em Twister Hat to your Ravelry favorites or queue.

Auntie Em Twister Hat

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

Weather the next storm with the Auntie Em Twister Hat! This textured, knit-look slouchy hat includes a simple twist made by working the stitch pattern without joins. This pattern was designed for the 2018 Cancer Challenge with Sweet Potato 3.

Finished Sizes

• Newborn (Infant, Toddler, Pre-School Child, Teen/Adult Small, Adult Large). Photographed sample is Teen/Adult Small.
  • Newborn: 12.5” (32 cm) hat circumference x 6.25” (16 cm) height.
  • Infant: 15” (38 cm) hat circumference x 7.25” (18.5 cm) height.
  • Toddler: 17” (43 cm) hat circumference x 8” (20.5 cm) height.
  • Pre-School Child: 18” (46 cm) hat circumference x 8.25” (21 cm) height.
  • Teen/Adult Small: 21” (53.5 cm) hat circumference x 9.5” (24 cm) height.
  • Adult Large: 22” (56 cm) hat circumference x 10” (25.5 cm) height.

Materials

• Sprightly Acrylic Super Bulky yarn (100% acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g/109 yd/100 m) – 1 skein in 502-016 Crimson (CA) and 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) skeins in 502-010 Medium Grey (CB), or approximately 28 yd (38 yd, 48 yd, 55 yd, 70 yd, 77 yd)/25.5 m (35 m, 44 m, 50 m, 64 m, 70.5 m) in CA and 47 yd (66 yd, 82 yd, 90 yd, 120 yd, 135 yd)/43 m (60 m, 75 m, 82.5 m, 110 m, 123.5 m) in CB in any super bulky weight yarn.
• US Size L-11/8 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• Yarn needle.
• Clover Quick Locking Stitch Marker Set.
• Clover Pom Pom Maker in appropriate size for project (optional).

Gauge

• 8 sts = 2.5” (6.5 cm) in pattern for Hat Band. Exact gauge is not critical for this pattern.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• 3L – 3^rd (back) loop
• 3Ldec – third loop decrease – [Yo, insert hook in 3L of next st, yo and draw up a loop] twice, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook. (See Pattern Notes.)
• BL – back loop
• CA – Color A
• CB – Color B
• ch – chain
• FL – front loop
• FLdec – front loop decrease – [Yo, insert hook in FL of next st, yo and draw up a loop] twice, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook. (See Pattern Notes.)
• hdc – half double crochet
• rep – repeat
• Rnd(s) – Round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• yo – yarn over
• *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
• [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.

Pattern Notes

• Moogly has helpful videos for identifying the front and back loops here and for identifying the third loop here.
• Both decreases are variations on the hdc2tog decrease. Whistle and Ivy has a helpful video tutorial for the hdc2tog here. When working the decreases for this pattern, be sure to insert the hook into the appropriate loop (third or front) as indicated.
• A helpful tutorial for the slip stitch seam is available here.
• A helpful photo tutorial showing how to close a slouchy hat by cinching is available here.
• Ch 1 at beginning of row or round does not count as a stitch.
• Hat Band is crocheted flat in rows until it reaches desired hat circumference length. After seaming Hat Band, stitches are picked up along long edge of seamed Hat Band. Hat is worked even in unjoined spirals and then cinched closed at crown.

Pattern Instructions

Hat Band – Newborn (Infant, Toddler, Pre-School Child) sizes ONLY

• With CA, ch 5.
• Row 1: Turn, skip first ch, sc in next ch and each ch across. (4 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, scBL in first st and each st across.
• Rep Row 2 until Hat Band measures approximately 12.5” (15”, 17”, 18”)/32 cm (38 cm, 43 cm, 46 cm) long, ending after Row 2. Do not fasten off.
• Fold Hat Band in half along long edge so short edges are lined up. Join short edges with slip stitch seam (see Pattern Notes). Do not fasten off. CONTINUE TO PICKING UP STITCHES ALONG HAT BAND.

Hat Band –Teen/Adult Small (Adult Large) sizes ONLY

• With CA, ch 9.
• Row 1: Turn, skip first ch, sc in next ch and each ch across. (8 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, scBL in first st and each st across.
• Rep Row 2 until Hat Band measures approximately 21” (22”)/53.5 cm (56 cm) long. Do not fasten off.
• Fold Hat Band in half along long edge so short edges are lined up. Join short edges with slip stitch seam (see Pattern Notes). Do not fasten off. CONTINUE TO PICKING UP STITCHES ALONG HAT BAND.

Pick Up Stitches Along Hat Band – All Sizes

• Begin working in the round along long edge/joined circumference.
• Set Up Rnd: Ch 1, work 42 (48, 54, 60, 66, 72) sc evenly around long edge (or any multiple of 6 sts), fasten off, change to CB in last yo of final sc, do not join. Place stitch marker in last st and move up each Rnd to mark position.

Work Even

• Rnd 1: *HdcBL in next 3 sts, hdcFL in next 3 sts; rep from * around.
• Rnd 2: *Hdc3L in next 3 sts, hdcFL in next 3 sts; rep from * around.
• Rep Rnd 2 until hat measures 4.75” (5.75”, 6.5”, 6.75”, 8”, 8.5”)/12 cm (14.5 cm, 16.5 cm, 17 cm, 20.5 cm, 21.5 cm), or about 1.5” (4 cm) shorter than desired final height.
• Rnd 3: *3Ldec, hdc3L, FLdec, hdcFL; rep from * around. – 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48) sts.
• Rnd 4: *3Ldec, FLdec; rep from * around. – 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts.
• Remove stitch marker. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm in length) for closing top of hat.

Finishing

• Thread yarn needle with yarn tail, cinch crown of hat closed (see Pattern Notes).
• With CA, make pom pom following instructions on Clover Pom Pom Maker. Alternatively, make a pom pom by hand using this tutorial.
• Trim pom pom.
• Attach pom pom to hat using yarn needle and yarn tail that tied pom pom together.
• With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat.

© 2018 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: https://undergroundcrafter.com/2018/10/24/crochet-pattern-auntie-em-twister-hat. Thanks for supporting indie designers!